Before making a referral to CSE, it is important to provide the students with every opportunity to receive support through general education. Students can only be classified as having an educational disability when/if the supports available through general education are unsuccessful. Parents/guardians need to be fully informed of concerns regarding their child. When such concerns arise, pre-referral interventions are first made by the teacher(s) and/or other staff members. If such interventions are not successful then students are referred to the Multi-Tiered System for Support (MTSS) team for further strategies/interventions. If these general education and/or non-mandated supports, services and programs do not result in adequate progress, then a student can be referred by MTSS to the CSE.
Have you contacted your child’s teacher(s) to discuss concerns?
Always express your concerns to your child’s teacher or teaching team
Listen to your child’s team regarding what they are seeing in the classroom
Schedule a parent conference
Contact the building school psychologist to discuss your concerns.
Primary School: Karin Giudici (karin.giudici@palmaccsd.org)
Intermediate School: Julie Braniecki julie.braniecki@palmaccsd.org
Middle School: Sarah Larmann (sarah.larmann@palmaccsd.org)
High School: Allie Kem (allison.kem@palmaccsd.org)
Why should I contact the school psychologist?
Psychologist are trained to listen to concerns and can assist with planning next steps
Can assist in gathering information (past & current interventions, previous and current testing, report cards, etc)
Determine need for referral to MTSS.
Student’s parent or guardian, in writing (emails cannot be accepted) to Katie Crane, Director of Special Services
A designee of the school district
A professional staff member of the school district in which the student resides, or the public or private school the student legally attends or is eligible to attend
A licensed physician
A judicial officer
A professional staff member of a public agency with responsibility for welfare, health or education of children
A student who is 18 years of age or older, or an emancipated minor, who is eligible to attend public schools of the district
A referral submitted by persons other than the parent, student or judicial officer is a “request for a referral” and must:
State the reason for the referral and include any test results, records or reports upon which the referral is being based
Describe, in writing, intervention services, programs or instructional methodologies used to remediate the student’s performance prior to the referral, including any supplementary aids or support services provided for this purpose, or state the reasons why no such attempts were made
Describe the extent of parental contact or involvement prior to the referral
Upon receipt of the written referral (or request for referral), the Director of Special Services or School Psychologist will, within 10 days Request a meeting with the parent/guardian and the student, if appropriate, to:
Determine whether the student would benefit from additional general education support services as an alternative to special education, and forward the request back to MTSS for such intervention strategies, or
Determine if a referral for a Section 504 Accommodation Plan is more appropriate, or
Request parent consent to initiate the CSE evaluation